I've had this grainy jpeg image saved on my computer for years. I love these old print ads. This is a mid sixties promotion for a Vespa 150 Super, built by Douglas for the UK market under licence from Piaggio.

I always liked the low angle from which this photograph is shot, and I planned to make a drawing of it one day. 'One day' has gone by hundreds of times. I thought if I post my progress here in public it might force me to keep some momentum going.

So, let's draw scooters..... post edited to fix image links

Last edited by Ironfoot on Wed Jul 12, 2017 5:57 am; edited 1 time in total

Starting with a very loose sketch and quick lines to get something down on the digital page. Kind of like a marker pen drawing. I'm using an old Wacom graphics tablet and Adobe Illustrator here. It's been ages since I drew with a graphics tablet, and there's always a sense of disconnection between the pad and the monitor. My lines are pretty rusty for now.

post edited to fix image links

Last edited by Ironfoot on Wed Jul 12, 2017 5:57 am; edited 1 time in total

In Photoshop now. I've slimmed out some of the heavy lines and am beginning to paint in the body. Still using the Wacom pen and drawing with quick strokes. I'm liking the immediacy of this rough style.

Penned-in the rest of the scooter and added some tone to the body. I'm going to leave it here for a while and decide if/how to take it any further.

It's not bad as an informal sketch. It's broken the deadlock I found myself in.

post edited to fix image links

Last edited by Ironfoot on Wed Jul 12, 2017 6:00 am; edited 1 time in total

I've got an Etch A Sketch drawing of my LXV coming up. Stay tuned. Give it a while, though. It's 3rd in line- I promised my kids Frozen drawings first. Just about done with Elsa and Anna on paper and getting ready to transfer it to the Etch A Sketch.

Looking at my sketch now I notice the left side cowl is missing. It was obscured by the woman in the reference photo, but I'm pretty sure it should be visible from this angle.

I think it looks great right now (and I like the yellow seat better of the 2 as it gives better contrast with the background). Then again, I have a severe lack of graphical abilities, so I don't feel like I have much to contribute there. My attempts would make Strick's look like Rembrandt in comparison...

If you're wondering whether or not you should try to add the left cowl, ask yourself if you'd be content with it the way it is now or if it'll always bug you.

As I said, I think it looks great now, but if you're not happy with it, keep working it until you feel it's right.

Looking at my sketch now I notice the left side cowl is missing. It was obscured by the woman in the reference photo, but I'm pretty sure it should be visible from this angle.

I believe the word you're searching for is doh!

just pretend it's a Lambretta and it fell off

Now, that's just...mean. And damned funny.

Ironfoot: I'm hoping there's a T-shirt coming from all this. Like it a lot. Which reminds me - time to order that GTS shirt from you guys. Going to order it right now, in fact. (See what you made me do?)

Ironfoot, can I join your posse?
People often ask me where my inspiration comes from.
I draw from life... from life...

It's "Tao Tao", but yeah, North Carolina is not exactly leading the way in scooter culture. Now that I'm at the coast, there are alot more scooters, but more police harassment also. This from a person who came from Charlotte. SMH.

In Photoshop now. I've slimmed out some of the heavy lines and am beginning to paint in the body. Still using the Wacom pen and drawing with quick strokes. I'm liking the immediacy of this rough style.

Penned-in the rest of the scooter and added some tone to the body. I'm going to leave it here for a while and decide if/how to take it any further.

It's not bad as an informal sketch. It's broken the deadlock I found myself in.

Ah, deadlocks. Know the feeling

Yep, definitely feeling a T-shirt out of this one. Will just have to content myself with one o' these from youse guys right now: just ordered it, in fact. (Damnit...meant to add a set of "Anno 1946" stickers to that. Next time, promise.)

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